Daily horse racing blog

Talking Horses

Racing in Mongolia. It looks a bit like Newmarket. Photograph: Elizabeth Dalziel/AP

4.03pm Richard Hughes making hay at Bath

Chris Cook: Richard Hughes finished last in Bath's opener and has won all four races since, including on the 8-1 shot Cockney Fire. He has one ride remaining, on Peter Bowen's Kristallo in the 4.30pm.

Hughes was trailing Ryan Moore by seven wins in the jockeys' title race before today's action began. Moore isn't riding today and his next booked rides are for Sandown's card on Thursday evening. Hughes might be past him by then.

If you had Hughes's four-timer, you're looking at a payout of 252-1.

Update: Hughes did not win the 4.30pm. Latest standings:

Ryan Moore 90Richard Hughes 87William Buick 73

Hughes has two rides at Kempton tonight and Buick will also be there.

3.12pm Sprinter Sacre back in Lambourn!

Chris Cook: At Newbury on Sunday, one of the most enjoyable sights was a row of big, black, bushy fences in the back straight, all in the middle of being rebuilt for the new jumps season. It must be more than two months until the track's first jumps fixture of the winter but it'll come around sooner than you think.

One of the signs that we're heading in that direction is the return of last winter's star names to their stables after a summer spent scoffing grass somewhere cheaper. And it appears that Sprinter Sacre, among the most exciting chasers I've ever seen, is already impressing Nicky Henderson with his appearance.

In the video above, shown today on At The Races, Mick Fitzgerald interrupts the trainer's round of golf to talk about the beast.

Today's best bets, by Will Hayler

Congratulations to Donal Fahy and Richie Killoran, who start out on Friday in the Mongol Derby, a 1,000 km endurance event which will see them ride a series of horses and ponies provided by local farmers in 12-hour shifts for up to 10 days. The jockeys, the first UK-based riders to take part, are raising money for the Injured Jockeys' Fund in recognition of the support they have both received in the past.

Nearer to home, Lady Kildare (3.20) gets my vote as the best bet of the day over six furlongs at Catterick this afternoon. Three times a winner last year, including over course and distance, there have been strong signs in her last couple of starts that a return to form is on the way.

Last time out, back over six furlongs for the first time this season, she was second of seven runners that made their way to race on the stands' side. The first horse home in that group, Willbeme, gave the form a considerable boost when impressively taking a similar contest at Doncaster on Saturday.

Irish Girls Spirit (4.20) looks an obvious play an hour later on the card. She is 5lb higher than when scoring at Yarmouth last time out but this looks a weaker contest and she has very few miles on her clock. Having missed a couple of other possible opportunities since when the ground went against her, conditions are finally in her favour again at Catterick.

There are just a couple of weeks now until my annual adventure to Bath and I'm looking forward to a pint of Betty Stogs and a pasty along with a couple of impossible low-grade sprint handicaps. Most of the usual suspects turn up for today's five-furlong affair, but Rupeetoups (3.30) might be worth a speculative play on his handicap debut. Henry Candy doesn't have many horses in team rated 46 and he appeared to take a minor step forwards at Salisbury last time when able to lead the field until the two-furlong pole.

Tipping competition, day two

Nobody managed more than one winner yesterday, so our eight joint-leaders are those who found either Caranbola or Bandanaman, both 9-1 winners. Only five of you went for Oblitereight (2-1), which just shows how much the focus here is on finding winners at bigger prices. Either that or you all objected to the spelling.

This week's prize a pair of tickets to Sandown's family fun day on Saturday 1 September. The free entertainment will include Ben & Holly Mascots, the Mad Hatters Tea Party and Queen of Hearts Croquet. Children's author Lauren Child will be attending to sign her Charlie and Lola books and there will be a display of the horsey cartoons by Norman Thelwell. Throw in the Solario and the Atalanta Stakes and you have a proper day out! If you don't win, you can read more about it and buy tickets here. (Accompanied kids under 18 go free)

As ever, our champion will be the tipster who returns the best profit to notional level stakes of £1 at starting price on our nominated races, of which there will be four each day up until Friday. Non-runners count as losers. If you have not joined in so far this week, you are welcome to do so today, but you will start on -3.

In the event of a tie at the end of the week, the winner will be the tipster who, from among those tied on the highest score, posted their tips earliest on the final day.